Trail: Kinsmans and Cannon loop from Lafayette Camp Ground

Date Hiked: 04SEP06

Conditions: Pemi Trail from Lafayette CG to start of Kinsman Ridge trail is easy to follow but overgrown in places. Kinsman Ridge Trail up to Cannon is showing signs of serious erosion. Stone steps are definately needed especially along the lower sections. Kinsman Ridge Trail from Hi Cannon to Lonesome Lake Trail is very steep and not recomended in the rain. Otherwise mud and standing water along the whole ridge line. Will probably take a couple of days to dry out. Fishing Jimmy is in fine shape with a lot of recent trail work. All stream crossings were easy despite the rain.

Special Required Equipment: Defiantely needed gaiters today. Off and on drizzle meant rain gear as well.

Comments: It wasn't raining when I started off and I had hoped it would stay that way but it rained pretty much all day until just above Lonesome Lake. Not a lot of folks on the trail at all, one very exuberant family on Cannon (whose picture I took for them), what looked like a school group heading for an outing at Kinsman Shelter, and about half dozen little kids and assorted adults at the Hut. Absolutely no views from anywhere, which is just as well as my camera battery died. And of course when I got the car the the clouds parted and I could see the blue sky.